The Kenai City Council met on Wednesday, October 19th, to discuss the landscaping at the Kenai Municipal Airport, and some changes they would like to make to it.
The first idea was to implement bushes, trees, and fresh greenery around the area. With that and adding in a sprinkler system to keep everything fresh, it would be around $100,000, which was the original allocated amount.
But Terry Eubank, the Kenai City Manager says that there may be a new additions to the design. It would include three bronze bears near the departure entrance, all of them interacting in a different manner.
In August 2023, the US Fish and Wildlife Service reached out regarding the status of the landscape design and met with the Airport Administration and the City Manager’s office to discuss incorporating a bronze wildlife sculpture into the landscape design at the terminal.
One bear would be standing in the rock garden, another would be hunting for salmon, and small bear would be “wondering the area.”
Within this new design concept, it would attempt to integrate the three bears concept with the original greenery update.
The main concern is the funding.
The three bronze bear sculptures are estimated at a total cost of $200,000. While the cost is dependent upon the contractor services and specialists, it was much more than the council allotted for.
Council member Henry Knackstedt is in favor of the bears idea, but fears that the amount of money it would cost to implement there bears might be too much for the time being, and would like to continue with the original plan first before making the bear addition.
“And then lastly, we appropriated $100,000, I was pretty sure that was going to be short, even without the bear, it just costs an awful lot.. I would be in support at looking at appropriating some more funds necessary to finish the main landscaping,” said Knackstedt.
Council member Alex Douthit did offer another idea. It could be possible to make some changes to the original landscaping idea to try and save a bit of money, that can then go to the bears funding. But the main priority is to complete the landscaping first.
“I would hate to sit here and wait 2, 3, 4, 5 years down the road, waiting on a statue that may or may not happen and still not have our airport sprouted up…”
Eubank said that overall, the council is supportive of the idea, but are concerned about how they will be able to afford this. It’s possible through fundraising and grants, but nothing it set. For now, the landscaping shall continue as such, but save some room for the bears in the future.